Idaho/Canada Border Idaho/Canada Border IssuesIssues

Transportation Border Working Group Transportation Border Working Group MeetingMeeting

Coeur d’Alene, IDCoeur d’Alene, IDApril 22-23, 2008April 22-23, 2008

Regional PictureRegional Picture

U.S.-95U.S.-95

• Idaho’s major north/south link with Canada• Congressional high-priority corridor• Eastport among top 20 U.S./Canada commercial

port of entry in dollar volume• Experiencing increases in truck traffic to and

from Canada• Improvements are important to international,

interstate and local trade• $132 million already invested or programmed

U.S.- 95/Canada TradeU.S.- 95/Canada Trade

• Heavy truck traffic at Eastport has increased 47% since 1993 and could increase more as improvements to U.S. 95 are made.

• For WA, OR and CA destinations, traffic from Alberta travels through Eastport rather than Sweetgrass, MT because it provides a shorter, more efficient route.

U.S.-95/Canada TradeU.S.-95/Canada Trade

• Improvements to U.S. 95 from the Canadian border south to the Junction of Idaho 1 to remove trailer length and off-track restrictions and improve safety are and will provide a shorter, safer route for international and local traffic.

• Improvements to US-95 will enhance economic efficiency and mobility because international trade can move over a more direct route to markets and avoid more circuitous and costly alternative routings

Eastport Southbound Truck TrafficEastport Southbound Truck Traffic1978-20071978-2007

Eastport, Idaho Trucks

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

19781979

19801981

19821983

19841985

19861987

19881989

19901991

19921993

19941995

19961997

19981999

20002001

20022003

20042005

20062007

Fiscal Year

Tru

ck

s

(Former!) Eastport Rerouting (Former!) Eastport Rerouting OptionOption

Eastport Commercial TrafficEastport Commercial Traffic

• Primary Canadian Products by truck-Lumber and wood products-Livestock (primarily cattle)-Fertilizer

• Primary Canadian Products by rail-Petroleum products-Propane-Potash-Lumber

Intermodal Advantages of Intermodal Advantages of Eastport/KingsgateEastport/Kingsgate

• Serves as a rail interchange as well as a truck port of entry

• Provides Union Pacific Railroad’s only direct interchange with Canadian railroads

• Currently 80-120 trains per month

• Lumber from Canada is transported short-haul by truck and loaded on rail for long-haul movement

U.S.-95 High Priority U.S.-95 High Priority Border ProjectsBorder Projects

U.S.-95 south of the borderU.S.-95 south of the border

Highway 95 north of the borderHighway 95 north of the border

(Former!) U.S.-95 southbound (Former!) U.S.-95 southbound from U.S. Customsfrom U.S. Customs

New U.S.-95 southbound New U.S.-95 southbound from U.S. Customsfrom U.S. Customs

South Moyie River BridgeSouth Moyie River Bridge

UP Railroad Grade SeparationUP Railroad Grade Separation

Scoping Feasibility for theScoping Feasibility for theInland Pacific HubInland Pacific Hub

• Economics and Existing Infrastructure Analysis

• Transportation Strategies and Economic Impacts

• Emerging Technology Analysis

• Transportation Funding Sources

• Environmental Screening & International Issues

• Individual State & Provincial Plans

• Transportation Funding Sources

• Environmental Screening & International Issues

• Individual State & Provincial Plans

Joint Funding for Collaborative Assessments

Salt Lake CityPop. - 1M

CalgaryPop. - 2.6M

Port of VancouverPop. - 2M

Idaho Dept. of Commerce, 2005;

U.S. Consulate Office Alberta Canada,2006

Inland Inland Pacific Pacific HubHub

Nearly 20 million people live within 16 hours driving time.

Bay AreaPop. - 8M

Portland

Puget SoundPop - 3.46M

Pop - 1.7M

Vancouver

Inefficient capacity use, weak systems planning compound the challenge

Potential for Interconnected Transfer Points

I-90 Improvements

Geiger Spur w/ Trans-Loader

Railex Distribution Center

Port capable of shipping loads by barge and rail

Bridging the Valley increasing rail efficiency

International Airport with Federal Trade Zone & Customs

North South Connections

Union Pacific International crossing 24 Hr. Border

Business & General Aviation Airport

Huetter Bypass

New Trucking & Distribution Centers

Sand Creek Byway

Bi-State Fiber Ring

• Capitalizing on Strengths

• Strategic Use of Funding

• Regional Opportunities

Idaho/Canada Border IssuesIdaho/Canada Border Issues

• Thank you for your attention and thank you to the TBWG for having your meeting in Coeur d’Alene!

• Questions?